FU MANCHU DOUBLE FEATURE: “The World Shall Hear From Me Again”

That famous quote, which appears at the end of every Christopher Lee Fu Manchu movie, is particularly appropriate for this new double feature from Kino Lorber for the first two Fu Manchu films which were made in 1929 and 1930. Both movies were big budget affairs from Paramount and showcased future Charlie Chan star WarnerContinue reading “FU MANCHU DOUBLE FEATURE: “The World Shall Hear From Me Again””

TULSA (1949): The Film Detective Version Is The One To Get

TULSA is yet another Eagle Lion film that is ripe for restoration. It has existed for years in cheap public domain copies that range from OK to downright bad. This is even more apparent as TULSA is one of the very few Eagle Lion movies in color and three strip Technicolor no less. The colorContinue reading “TULSA (1949): The Film Detective Version Is The One To Get”

THE GUILTY / HIGH TIDE: Grim Double Feature Is Film Noir Stripped To Its Essentials

Flicker Alley and The Film Noir Foundation’s latest release focuses on two forgotten films from Monogram Pictures that were shot back to back in 1947. They feature the same director (John Bernhard), the same producer (Jack Wrather), the same cameraman (Henry Sharp) and the same leading man (Don Castle). Both clock in at 71 minutesContinue reading “THE GUILTY / HIGH TIDE: Grim Double Feature Is Film Noir Stripped To Its Essentials”

BRIGHT LEAF (1950): Soap & Tobacco Don’t Mix

When BRIGHT LEAF was made in 1950, Gary Cooper’s career was in a slump. Between the end of World War II and his iconic, Oscar winning performance in HIGH NOON (1952), he appeared in a string of movies that underperformed at the box office considering his status as one of Hollywood’s major stars. As inContinue reading “BRIGHT LEAF (1950): Soap & Tobacco Don’t Mix”

WHERE DANGER LIVES & TENSION Make For A Great Noir Double Bill

Back in October 2017 Warner Archive Collection released a series of Noir double features to cash in on the growing interest in Film Noir. These titles were taken from the RKO, MGM, United Artists and Warner Brothers back catalogues all of which WAC now controls. Most had originally appeared back in 2007. These re-issues, thoughContinue reading “WHERE DANGER LIVES & TENSION Make For A Great Noir Double Bill”

THE AMAZING MR X (1948) Is Truly Amazing

The parade of Eagle-Lion Film restorations contiues with the Film Detective Special Edition of 1948s THE AMAZING MR X. This remarkable little movie, originally called THE SPIRITUALIST (which is a more accurate title), is full of surprises to delight the eye and the mind. The eye part is due to the gorgeous cinematography by theContinue reading “THE AMAZING MR X (1948) Is Truly Amazing”

LADY IN THE LAKE (1947): Sleuthing In The First Person

Since it first appeared in 1947, Robert Montgomery’s LADY IN THE LAKE has continued to fascinate and irritate movie fans. His use of first person camerawork, where everything is seen from his point of view, takes some getting used to. However it really doesn’t take that long and once you do then the film canContinue reading “LADY IN THE LAKE (1947): Sleuthing In The First Person”

KARLOFF & LUGOSI HORROR CLASSICS: Great For Fans Of The Horror Icons And A Chance To See Kay Kyser & His Band In Their Prime

When this set first appeared in 2009, it fulfilled a long standing need for a decent print of one of Boris Karloff’s best 1930s non-Universal horror films. That movie was THE WALKING DEAD made for Warner Brothers in 1936 by Michael Curtiz just before he hit the big time with THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD.Continue reading “KARLOFF & LUGOSI HORROR CLASSICS: Great For Fans Of The Horror Icons And A Chance To See Kay Kyser & His Band In Their Prime”

THE THING THAT COULDN’T DIE (1958): Too Little, Too Late

By 1958 the Golden Age of the American B movie, especially those in the horror and sci-fi genres, was all but over. At Universal-International, THE THING THAT COULDN’T DIE represented a last ditch effort. It was shot in less than two weeks on the back lot and was intended as a shorter companion piece toContinue reading “THE THING THAT COULDN’T DIE (1958): Too Little, Too Late”

THE HAUNTED STRANGLER: At Age 70, Boris Karloff Could Still Deliver The Goods

Having completed the British TV series COLONEL MARCH (1952-1956), Boris Karloff was approached by writer Jan Read to do a screenplay he had written for the actor called STRANGLEHOLD. Karloff read the script and readily agreed as it gave him the opportunity to continue working in England. American producer Richard Gordon set up Amalgamated ProductionsContinue reading “THE HAUNTED STRANGLER: At Age 70, Boris Karloff Could Still Deliver The Goods”